Controlled needle-free transport

• US 10,326,347 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2016
• Issued: 06/18/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Original Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Inventors: Hunter, Ian W., Taberner, Andrew J., Hemond, Brian D., Wendell, Dawn M., Hogan, Nora Catherine, Ball, Nathan B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mullins, Burton S
• Application Number:
  US15/066,868
• Publication Number:
  US 20160197542A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,195 Days
• Field of Search: 310 1231
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/20 for vaccinating or cleaning the skin previous to the vaccination diagnosis by vaccination other than by injuring the skin A61B10/0035 ; apparatus for injections A61M
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/205 Vaccinating by means of needles or other puncturing devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61D 7/00 Devices or methods for introducing solid, liquid, or gaseous remedies or other materials into or onto the bodies of animals for reproduction or fertilisation A61D19/00 ; devices for implanting pellets, radon seeds or the like A61M37/0069
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/50 with microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6009 for matching patient with his treatment, e.g. to improve transfusion security
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/825 using mechanical generation of electricity, e.g. hand cranked generators
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2250/00 Specially adapted for animals
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/19 having more than one chamber , e.g. including a manifold coupling two parallelly aligned syringes through separate channels to a common discharge assembly surgical glue applicators A61B17/00491
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/30 Syringes for injection by jet action, without needle, e.g. for use with replaceable ampoules or carpules
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 33/00 Motors with reciprocating, oscillating or vibrating magnet, armature or coil system arrangements for handling mechanical energy structurally associated with motors H02K7/00, e.g. H02K7/06
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 33/18 with coil systems moving upon intermittent or reversed energisation thereof by interaction with a fixed field system, e.g. permanent magnets
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 41/02 Linear motors; Sectional motors

Abstract

A needle-free transdermal transport device for transferring a substance across a surface of a biological body includes a reservoir for storing the substance, a nozzle in fluid communication with the reservoir and a controllable electromagnetic actuator in communication with the reservoir. The actuator, referred to as a Lorentz force actuator, includes a stationary magnet assembly and a moving coil assembly. The coil assembly moves a piston having an end portion positioned within the reservoir. The actuator receives an electrical input and generates in response a corresponding force acting on the piston and causing a needle-free transfer of the substance between the reservoir and the biological body. The magnitude, direction and duration of the force are dynamically controlled (e.g., servo-controlled) by the electrical input and can be altered during the course of an actuation cycle. Beneficially, the actuator can be moved in different directions according to the electrical input.

Claims

1. A linear electromagnetic actuator comprising:

a stationary magnet assembly providing a magnetic field;

a coil assembly receiving an electrical input, the coil assembly slidably disposed with respect to the magnet assembly;

an extended stationary bearing surface formed over a length that abuts the magnet assembly;

a first bearing surface defined along a distal portion of the coil assembly and adapted to slide relative to the extended stationary bearing surface, the first bearing surface having an axial length that is short relative to an overall length of the coil assembly;

a second bearing surface defined along a proximal portion of the coil assembly also adapted to slide relative to the extended stationary bearing surface; and

a ferromagnetic shell including plural extensions extending from a distal end of the shell, the shell and the extensions providing the extended stationary bearing surface.

2. The linear electromagnetic actuator of claim 1 in a needle-free transdermal transport device.

3. The linear electromagnetic actuator of claim 2 further comprising a reservoir in communication with the actuator and a nozzle in fluid communication with the reservoir.